Amit Shah directs Delhi unit to start massive poll campaign

New Delhi: With an eye on capturing power in the capital, BJP president Amit Shah today directed the Delhi unit of the party to start a “massive” campaign focusing on over 11,000 booths to ensure a “historic victory” in the upcoming assembly polls.

Chairing a meeting to take stock of BJP's preparation for the upcoming polls, he told senior leaders to hit the ground in overseeing the preparation for the elections and asked Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay to task around 150 leaders to specifically oversee party's work at booth-level.

A senior Delhi BJP leader said Shah also asked the party unit to start a door-to-door campaign from November 20-30 to garner support of every section of the society. Entire brass of Delhi BJP, former Delhi unit presidents, party's Delhi in-charge Prabhat Jha, party MPs and former MLAs and prominent councillors were present in the two-hour-long meeting held at BJP headquarters here.

Shah's interaction with the party leaders lasted for around 50 minutes during which he gave “very clear direction” to strengthen the party's base and ensure a clear mandate in the polls.

Congress was in power in Delhi for 15 years from 1998-2013. BJP's efforts to return to power did not succeed as the party won in 31 seats in the assembly polls in December last year, falling five short of majority in the 70-member house.

“The party president has given clear direction to focus at the booth level and said strengthening the party at the grass-root will ensure a historic victory for the party,” said a senior BJP leader, who attended the meeting.

Shah also asked Upadhyay to check background of all leaders who want to switch over to BJP from other parties. “Shah has made it clear that the profile of other party leaders wanting to come to party should seriously be examined. Party should prepare a list of such persons and then they should take a final decision,” said another leader.

“MPs have also been asked to organise a meeting of around 500 people every day, covering 2,500 party's Shahari Kendra from December 1 to December 20,” the leader said. “MPs and other leaders will also be assigned constituencies according to their religious profiles. Like, a Muslim MP will be doing meetings in Muslim-dominated areas while a Sikh will be assigned areas of his influence,” he said.

In the meeting, Shah also referred to the victory in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat and said despite negative campaigning by other parties, BJP managed to win these elections because party workers had focused on booths. Shah has also asked party workers to apprise people of the good work done by the NDA government for their welfare.